Ospedale degli Incurabili

Ospedale degli Incurabili (Hospital for the Incurable) is a large palace in Venice, located in the Dorsoduro district (sestiere), on Fondamenta delle Zattere.

Today, the palace is the headquarters of the Venice Academy of Fine Arts (Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia).

SHORT HISTORY OF OSPEDALE DEGLI INCURABILI

By the end of the 15th century, hospitals were founded in many Italian cities for those suffering from syphilis, which was then considered incurable.

In 1517, the noblewomen Maria Malipiero and Marina Grimani created a small shelter in Venice for three women plagued by this new disease.

The Venetian hospital was founded in 1522 by Gaetano Thiene. In 1531, Girolamo Emiliani took over the management of the hospital.

At the beginning, the hospital buildings were made of wood. Only at the end of the 16th century, the hospital was rebuilt in bricks.

The institution was hit by a financial crisis in 1755, which was followed by the crisis of all Venetian hospitals in 1775.

In 1782, by decree of the Senate, Ospedale degli Incurabili passed to a new administration entirely at the expense of the state. In 1807, it became the most important civic hospital of the city.

Starting with February 1938, the complex was used as a juvenile rehabilitation center to which, after the Second World War, the juvenile court was added, both closed in 1977.

In 1997, it was decided to physically separate the two institutions of the Accademia Gallery (Gallerie dell’Accademia) and the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. The latter was moved to the former Hospital for the Incurable.

ARCHITECTURE OF OSPEDALE DEGLI INCURABILI

Ospedale degli Incurabili has a large quadrilateral structure developed around a large courtyard.

The facade overlooking the Giudecca Canal (Canale della Giudecca) is austere and symmetrical, with very few decorations.

The ground floor is covered with ashlar, and has in the center a large trabeated portal, with the upper frame supported by volute modillions.

Towards the sides, there are large pairs of windows superimposed on the two floors of the building. Further towards the sides of the building, there were two smaller arched portals, now walled up.

Inside, there is a large cloister in late Renaissance style, typical of Venice in the second half of the 16th century.

HOW TO GET TO OSPEDALE DEGLI INCURABILI

Ospedale degli Incurabili is located about 2.2 kilometers on foot from the Santa Lucia railway station. The closest vaporetto stop is Spirito Santo, located about 100 meters away, on the waterbus Line 6.